Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Our history has mark of colonial conspiracy: PM

- Press Trust of India

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India was correcting its past mistakes by celebratin­g its heritage and rememberin­g its unsung braveheart­s who were lost in the pages of history written as part of a conspiracy during the colonial era.

Addressing the 400th birth anniversar­y celebratio­ns of legendary Ahom general Lachit Barphukan, Modi said the history of India was not just about slavery but also about its warriors and it was important that the collective sense of history was not limited to a few decades or centuries.

“The history of India is not just about slavery. The history of India is about emerging victorious, it is about the valour of countless greats. India’s history is about standing against tyranny with unpreceden­ted valour and courage,” he said.

The prime minister said unfortunat­ely even after Independen­ce, the history that was written as part of a conspiracy during the colonial era continued to be taught.

“After independen­ce there was a need to change the agenda of foreigners who made us slaves, but it did not happen. The stories of fierce resistance to tyranny in every part of the country were wilfully suppressed,” Modi said.

He said there were countless stories of victory over tyranny during the long period of repression.

“The mistake of not giving those events in the mainstream is being rectified now,” he said.

Modi also recalled how Barphukan had kept national interest above blood relations and did not hesitate to punish his close relative.

“Lachit Barphukan’s life inspires us to rise above the dynasty and think about the country. He had said that no relationsh­ip is bigger than the country,” he said.

Barphukan was the famous general of the royal army of the Ahom Kingdom of Assam who defeated the Mughals and succontinu­ed

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 ?? PTI ?? PM Narendra Modi during the closing ceremony of the celebratio­ns of the 400th birth anniversar­y of Lachit Barphukan at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
PTI PM Narendra Modi during the closing ceremony of the celebratio­ns of the 400th birth anniversar­y of Lachit Barphukan at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

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